I. käm-ˈpä-zət, kəm-ˈ, especially Brit ˈkäm-pə-zit adjective
Etymology: Latin compositus, past participle of componere
Date: 1563
1. : made up of distinct parts: as
a. capitalized : relating to or being a modification of the Corinthian order combining angular Ionic volutes with the acanthus-circled bell of the Corinthian
b. : of or relating to a very large family (Compositae syn. Asteraceae) of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees often considered to be the most highly evolved plants and characterized by florets arranged in dense heads that resemble single flowers
c. : factorable into two or more prime factors other than 1 and itself
8 is a positive composite integer
2. : combining the typical or essential characteristics of individuals making up a group
the composite man called the Poet — Richard Poirier
3. of a statistical hypothesis : specifying a range of values for one or more statistical parameters — compare simple 10
• com·pos·ite·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: 1656
1. : something composite : compound
a composite of two images
2. : a composite plant
3. : composite function
4. : a solid material which is composed of two or more substances having different physical characteristics and in which each substance retains its identity while contributing desirable properties to the whole ; especially : a structural material made of plastic within which a fibrous material (as silicon carbide) is embedded
III. transitive verb
( -it·ed ; -it·ing )
Date: 1923
: to make composite or into something composite
composited four soil samples
composite the images